Flourish

Flourish: Don't Be Salty This Holiday Season

12/22/2021

On average, Americans consume 47% more sodium per day than they should.

A spoon full of salt with the word "salt" spelled out with salt

Most of us eat more sodium than we need. Too much sodium can cause your blood pressure to rise, which can lead to heart disease, stroke or kidney failure. But what is the right amount of sodium? 

Follow these guidelines:

  • Most of us should be limiting our sodium intake to 2,300 mg a day. That’s about 1 teaspoon of table salt. 
  • When looking at a food label, it’s best if the daily value of sodium per serving is 5% or less. A daily value of sodium of 20% or more is considered high. 
  • Some high sodium foods include pickles, tortillas, canned soups and processed cheese. 

Source: Juniper's Living Well with Chronic Conditions class

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